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The 2025 fantasy football playoffs are officially underway.

In the playoffs, start-sit decisions become significantly more magnified. Make the wrong call and your season could be over in the blink of an eye. To assist with your most difficult lineup decisions, you’ll find Week 15 fantasy football rankings below (scroll to the bottom for complete rankings). Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception), and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format.

Our team at the USA TODAY Sports Network also has you covered for all your fantasy football needs. Looking for up-to-date player news? We’ve got it. Be sure to check out the rest of our Week 15 fantasy content as well.

Start/sit: Overall | Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end

Analysis: 11 streamers for Week 15 | 13 risers and sleepers

Given the volatility of this league and fantasy football in particular, these rankings will be updated up to a half hour before the Sunday afternoon games kick off. Let’s get to it.

Week 15 fantasy football quarterback rankings: Top streamers

Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy at Dallas Cowboys – The idea of streaming McCarthy might make you want to vomit, but he is one of the best widely available options. McCarthy is coming off a 20.4-point performance against the Commanders in which he completed 70% of his passes and threw for three touchdowns. The 22-year-old has now amassed 16.7 or more fantasy points in four of his seven starts. In Week 15, he’ll take on a Cowboys defense that’s allowing 3.2 more fantasy points per game to the position than any other team in the NFL.
Washington Commanders QB Marcus Mariota at New York Giants – Mariota has dropped at least 16.4 fantasy points in five of his six starts, including 18.7 and 24.3 in two of his last three. He’s a top streamer against a Giants defense that’s ceded more than 18 fantasy points to the position in seven of their last eight games.
New Orleans Saints QB Tyler Shough vs. Carolina Panthers – Is Tyler Shough a legitimate streaming option in the fantasy playoffs? He might just be. The rookie has eclipsed 18 fantasy points in three of his last four outings. Last week saw him rack up a career-high 55 rush yards and two tuddies on the ground. In Week 15, Shough will face a Panthers defense that he tore up for 282 yards and two touchdowns in Week 10.
Cleveland Browns QB Shedeur Sanders at Chicago Bears – Sanders was QB2 in Week 15, posting 393 total yards and four touchdowns on his way to 34.5 fantasy points. The rookie will have a chance to build on that performance in Week 15, against a Bears team that’s surrendering the ninth-most fantasy points to the position this season.

Week 15 fantasy football running back rankings: Top streamers

New York Giants RB Devin Singletary vs. Washington Commanders – In the four weeks prior to New York’s bye, Singletary was fantasy’s overall RB14, averaging 12.1 half-PPR points per game. The 28-year-old averaged 15.3 opportunities (targets + carries) in his final three games before the bye, and had reached double-digits in five consecutive games. This week, he’ll take on a Commanders front that’s giving up the second-most fantasy points to opposing runners since Week 4.
Washington Commanders RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. at New York Giants – In 2025, only the Bengals are surrendering more fantasy points to opposing running backs than the Giants. New York is allowing an NFL-high 6.1 yards per attempt, and Rodriguez has recorded double-digit carries in four of his last five games. While the 25-year-old offers no value in the passing game, this defense has given up the second-most yards and sixth-most touchdowns on the ground to the position. If Rodriguez ends up being inactive, both Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols offer flex appeal.
Los Angeles Rams RB Blake Corum vs. Detroit Lions – Corum erupted for 131 yards and two touchdowns on 13 touches last week, which means he might end up in a lot of lineups in Week 15. There is reason to exercize caution, however. Kyren Williams still had a strong lead in snaps (36 to 22) and routes (18 to 9). Additionally, the Rams will be taking on a Lions team that funnels to the pass. So far in 2025, the Lions have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs and the second-most to wideouts. Starting Corum is one way to get exposure to one of the league’s most potent offenses, but don’t expect another explosive performance.

Week 15 fantasy football wide receiver rankings: Top streamers

Carolina Panthers WR Jalen Coker at New Orleans Saints – Prior to Carolina’s Week 14 bye, we saw Coker lead the team with six targets. Against a tough Rams secondary, Coker caught four of his six targets for 74 yards and a touchdown. The 24-year-old has now received at least four targets in four consecutive outings. Coker will be an intriguing flex option against a Saints secondary that has ceded more than 14 half-PPR points to 10 different receivers this season.
Green Bay Packers WR Jayden Reed at Denver Broncos – In just his first game back last week, Reed returned to his regular role as the Packers’ slot receiver. Despite playing just 43% of snaps, Reed finished just two routes behind Romeo Doubs for second on the team (17 to 19), and his six touches (four receptions, two carries) were the most behind only Josh Jacobs. A tough matchup with Denver awaits, but Reed’s ceiling is high compared to most other widely available players at the position.
New Orleans Saints WR Devaughn Vele vs. Carolina Panthers – Since New Orleans returned from its Week 11 bye, Vele has been the team’s clear WR1B. This past week, the 28-year-old finished tied for the team lead in snaps (54) and targets (5), while ending up with just two fewer routes than teammate Chris Olave (22 to 24). Vele led the team in receiving for a second consecutive week, though his 3-40-0 line was a far cry from his 8-93-1 line in Week 13. The veteran will be a decent flex option against a Carolina team that’s allowed double-digit half-PPR points to 10 wide receivers in as many games.
New England Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte vs. Buffalo Bills – Boutte is the ultimate high-risk, high-reward flex play at wideout. In 10 healthy contests, Bouttle has posted at least 11.5 half-PPR points five times and fewer than six points on four occasions. He’s a widely-available top-40 play against a Bills defense that’s surrendered double-digit half-PPR points to 12 wideouts in 2025.

Week 15 fantasy football tight end rankings: Top streamers

Baltimore Ravens TE Isaiah Likely at Cincinnati Bengals – In 2024, the Los Angeles Rams gave up a league-leading 15.9 fantasy points per game to tight ends. The 2025 Bengals are beating that number by an astonishing 8.2 half-PPR points. Cincinnati has surrendered 325 more yards and six more touchdowns to the position than any other team in the NFL. Meanwhile, Likely has out-targeted veteran Mark Andrews over the last two games, and he has outgained him by 64 yards. The 25-year-old could also easily have three touchdowns over those two contests. No one should be shocked if Likely finishes as a top-three tight end in Week 15.
Cincinnati Bengals TE Mike Gesicki vs. Baltimore Ravens – Last year, in the five games that Tee Higgins missed, Gesicki averaged 7.2 targets, 62.4 receiving yards, and 10.8 half-PPR points. Fresh off a game in which he nearly doubled his season’s output, Gesicki is a borderline TE1 with Higgins out of the lineup.

Week 15 fantasy football rankings: PPR and non-PPR

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Fernando Mendoza has been given a lifelong membership to college football’s most hallowed and selective brotherhood.

The Indiana football quarterback was named the 2025 recipient of the Heisman Trophy on Saturday in New York City. He beat out Vanderbilt and Ohio State quarterbacks Diego Pavia and Julian Sayin, respectively, and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love for the annual award that’s given out to the best player in college football.

Mendoza received 2,362 votes from Heisman Trophy voters, including 643 first-place votes.

There has not been an Indiana player to have won the Heisman Trophy before Mendoza, making Saturday’s award ceremony inside Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room another ‘first’ that Mendoza has led the program to during his first season in Bloomington.

Heading into the College Football Playoff, Mendoza leads Division I FBS quarterbacks with 33 touchdown passes, two more than Sayin and Baylor and North Texas quarterbacks Sawyer Robertson and Drew Mestemaker, respectively.

‘Mami, this is your trophy as much as it is mine. You’ve always been my biggest fan. You’re my light. You’re my Why. You’re my biggest supporter. Your sacrifice, courage, love those have been my first playbook, and the playbook that I’m gonna carry through my side through my entire life,’ Mendoza said. ‘You taught me that toughness doesn’t need to be loud. It can be quiet and strong. It’s choosing hope. It’s believing in yourself when the world doesn’t give you much reason to.

‘Together, you and I are rewriting what people think is possible. I love you.’

Mendoza also thanked his grandparents in Spanish, saying: ‘And for my grandparents: Por el amor y sacrificio de mis padres y abuelos, los quiero mucho. De toda mi corazon, de toda gracias.’ (For the love and sacrifice of my parents and grandparents, I love you. With all my heart, thank you).

Fernando Mendoza Heisman Trophy speech

Here’s a look at Mendoza’s Heisman Trophy speech:

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WASHINGTON, DC — John Cena ends his wrestling career in defeat.

The iconic WWE wrestler lost the final match of his storied run, as Gunther emerged victorious at Saturday Night’s Main Event on Dec. 13.

After a thrilling battle that had several twists and turns, it came down to the Sleeper Hold.

Toward the end of the match, punches were traded when the two stars got to their feet, and it was Gunther who broke it with a powerbomb. He followed it with a Frog Splash and Cena avoided the loss, but Gunther didn’t stop, hitting another Sleeper Hold. Cena got up several times but Gunther continued to drag him back down. Just when Cena broke out of it, Gunther locked it back in.

Cena got out one more time to land the AA but the pin didn’t work, and it was immediately followed up with another submission hold. The crowd chanted ‘don’t give up’ as Cena started to fade. The referee checked Cena’s hand and he was able to keep it up before the three-count.

But Gunther kept the hold on. Cena finally tapped out and Gunther won to stun the crowd.

With the result, Cena’s wrestling career is complete. The Massachusetts native made his WWE debut in June 2002 and went on a historic 23-year run in the company. He was the face of wrestling for nearly two decades, embarking on several notable feuds with a ton great moments and championship reigns. 

At Money in the Bank 2024, Cena announced 2025 would be his final year of in-ring competition, beginning a farewell tour that took place across the world and would culminate at Capital One Arena in the nation’s capital.

A tournament was held to determine who would get the opportunity to be Cena’s final opponent, and Gunther emerged as the winner, defeating LA Knight in the final for the right to face the future WWE Hall of Famer. Now, Gunther gets the honor of beating Cena in his final match.

With his wrestling career over, Cena ends as a 17-time WWE Champion – the most in company history – as well as a Grand Slam Champion – with reigns as the Intercontinental, United States and Tag Team Champion. He also won the 2012 Money in the Bank match and is a two-time Royal Rumble match winner, in 2008 and 2013. 

It likely won’t be the last time Cena appears in WWE, but the last time was now for him as a wrestler.

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The U.S. women’s national hockey team defeated Canada, 4-1, on Saturday night at Rogers Place in Edmonton, to sweep the 2025 Rivalry Series, something neither team has done in the tournament’s six-year history.

Caroline Harvey opened scoring for Team USA in the second quarter. Team Canada immediately responded with a goal by Brianne Jenner, but the U.S. women rattled off three unanswered goals  — Laila Edwards (12:31, 2nd) and Hilary Knight (1:37 and 8:31, 3rd) — to win Game 4 and sweep the series.

The Americans outscored the Canadians 24-7 in the Rivalry Series. The U.S. women had 13 different players score across the four games. Knight and Abbey Murphy lead all scorers with five goals, while Taylor Heise had eight assists.

Next up, the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, where the USA and Canada will likely meet again in the gold-medal game. This is the final game for both teams before the Olympic squads are chosen.

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates and highlights for the fourth and final Rivalry Series game between the U.S. women and Canada:

USA extends lead to 4-1 vs. Canada

Hilary Knight sealed the deal with an empty-net goal at the 1:37 mark.

USA on power play

Things are starting to get chippy between the rivals. Canada’s Laura Stacey was penalized two minutes for boarding at the 5:08 mark and set up USA’s fourth power play of the night. Just like the first three, the Americans weren’t able to capitalize.

USA scores; up 3-1 vs. Canada

Hilary Knight gave the USA some insurance with a goal at the 8:31 mark to go up 3-1.

Canada kills off the penalty

Canada’s Sarah Fillier was called for hooking less than four minutes into the period and received two minutes in the penalty box. USA earned a power play but wasn’t been able to capitalize. The Americans are 0-for-3 on power plays on the night.

Third period underway

There’s chaos to start the third period. American Kendall Coyne-Schofield nearly scored, but she hit the post.

End of second: USA 2, Canada 1

USA has a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play and has outshot Canada 24-20 through the first two periods. Caroline Harvey got the Americans on the board first with 14:47 remaining. Canada’s sole goal came from Jennifer Gardiner one minute later at 13:47. Laila Edwards gave USA the lead at the 12:31 mark.

USA leads Canada 2-1

The U.S. women are back in the lead with 12:31 remaining following a goal from Laila Edwards, who connected on a far-side pass from Taylor Heise off the faceoff. It was Edwards’ second goal of the Rivalry Series.

Canada ties it up

Canada answered back one minute later. Brianne Jenner scored to tie it at 1 with 13:47 left off an assist from Jennifer Gardiner. It marked Jenner’s 50th career goal with Canada’s national women’s hockey team.

USA scores off deflection

Team USA is on the board first. Caroline Harvey scored the first goal of the match off a deflection from Canada’ Chloe Primerano with 14:47 remaining in the second period. USA’s Cayla Barnes and Taylor Heise were credited with an assist.

Second period underway

We’re scoreless after the first period. The Canadians started the period on a power play to but USA killed it off.

End of first: USA 0, Canada 0

USA goalkeeper Aerin Frankel has been impenetrable so far. Canada recorded 12 shots on goal in the first period, but none got past Frankel. The U.S. women have managed six shots on goal so far, a stark contrast to the four goals scored against Canada in the opening period of Wednesday’s rout.

‘I think it’s a good start,’ Canadian Laura Stacey said after the first 20 minutes. ‘Obviously, we weren’t really satisfied with the way the last game turned out. It was important for us to regroup here as a team, stay connected and believe in ourselves. I think that first period showed exactly that.’

Canada killed two American power plays and will start the second period with the advantage.

Canada on power play

American Taylor Heise was called for goalkeeper interference after making contact with Canada’s Ann-Renee Desbiens with 41.8 seconds remaining in the first period. Heise appeared to be unhappy with the referee as she skated to the penalty box. Canada is on the power play for the first time in the game.

USA on power play

It wasn’t long before the Americans were back on the power play. Canada’s Sarah Fillier was called for slashing at the 14:11 mark and earned two minutes in the penalty box. However, Canada killed it off yet again.

Canada kills off penalty

Canada may have been shorthanded with Poulin in the penalty box, but the Canadians nearly scored on USA’s power play. Laura Stacey tried to squeeze the puck past USA’s Aerin Frankel for the first goal of the night. Canada only allowed one shot from the USA on the power play.

USA on power play

The first penalty of the night goes to Canada. Marie-Philip Poulin was called for an illegal check to the head of USA’s Abbey Murphy with 8:54 remaining in the first period. Murphy appeared to retaliate against Poulin after the contact, but wasn’t called for a penalty.

Canada taking shots early vs. USA

We are scoreless with 10:31 remaining in the first period. Canada came out aggressive and put up six shots on goal in the first 10 minutes, compared to one from USA. Goals have been hard to come by for the Canadians, who have only scored six goals through three games.

Game underway

USA leads 3-0 in the series.

What time is USA vs Canada Rivalry Series game?

The USA and Canada will play the fourth and final game of this year’s Rivalry Series at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 13 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta.

What channel is USA vs Canada Rivalry Series game?

The game will be shown on NHL Network.

2025 Rivalry Series stats: USA vs. Canada

The U.S. women have dominated Canada in the first three games of the Rivalry Series:

Goaltending matchup

USA’s Aerin Frankel vs. Canada’s Ann-Renee Desbiens.

Team USA’s top line remains same

Tessa Janecke, Alex Carpenter and Hilary Knight are the forwards on the No. 1 line for Saturday’s matchup, marking the same U.S. top line as the previous three Rivalry Series games. U.S. women’s head coach John Wroblewski has been experimenting with different forward combinations on the second line, but will go with the trio of Hannah Bilka, Taylor Heise and Abbey Murphy for the second consecutive game.

Team USA women’s hockey lines

Canada women’s hockey lines

When is Rivalry Series game? How to watch, TV channel

Date: Dec. 13, 2025
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: Rogers Place (Edmonton, Alberta)
TV: NHL Network
Streaming: Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Watch US women’s hockey vs. Canada on Fubo

What happened in Game 1 of the Rivalry Series?

Abbey Murphy went off, scoring a hat trick to put the Canadians on their heels in the 4-1 win. Taylor Heise assisted on all three of Murphy’s goals and also had a goal of her own.

What happened in Game 2 of the Rivalry Series?

This time it was veteran captain Hilary Knight’s turn for a hat trick as the Americans won 6-1. Kelly Panek, Laila Edwards and Hayley Scamurra also scored for the U.S. women, who broke the game open with four goals in the final period.

What happened in Game 3 of the Rivalry Series?

It was a goal-a-palooza, the 10 goals from the Americans the most ever scored by either team against the other. After Canada struck first in the first period, the U.S. women responded with five unanswered goals. The Canadians scored three times in the second period to make it close, only to have the Americans score four in the final period.

Abbey Murphy and Kelly Panek each had two, and Tessa Janecke, Jesse Compher, Kendall Coyne-Schofield, Britta Curl-Salemme, Alex Carpenter and Kirsten Simms had one each.

Why is the US-Canada rivalry so heated?

The U.S. women and Canada have dominated the women’s game and, as of right now, are really the only real competition for the other.

They are the only teams to have won the Olympics or the world championships, and they’ve played each other in all but two of the gold-medal games. (Sweden beat the U.S. in the semifinals of the 2006 Olympics in Turin and Finland beat Canada in the semifinals of the 2019 worlds.) Canada has won 13 of the 25 world championships and five of the seven Olympic gold medals.

But the U.S. currently has momentum, winning two of the last three world titles, including an overtime thriller in the spring.

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WASHINGTON, DC — The time is up.

After a legendary 23-year run, John Cena ended his WWE career with his final match on Dec. 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

It was an emotional send-off as the night was dedicated to the 17-time WWE Champion, with several stars of the past and present paying respect after all of the accomplishments and memories from his storied career. It was a thrilling and electric final match, but it didn’t end in victory as “The Ring General” Gunther defeated Cena to silence the crowd.

The result was shocking and upsetting for the WWE universe, but Cena got the chance to say goodbye for good. It capped off a fun night that included young NXT talent getting a chance against some of the best of the main roster.

Watch: Saturday Night’s Main Event postshow

John Cena says goodbye

A video plays inside the arena and on the broadcast honoring Cena. Afterward, Cena salutes the crowd and leaves his armbands and sneakers in the ring. He then walks back to the ramp and salutes the audience one final time. He says ‘it’s been an honor’ before he walks backstage, capping off his career.

WWE roster says goodbye to John Cena

After the match, nearly the entire WWE roster comes out, with Cody Rhodes and CM Punk placing their championships on Cena’s shoulders.

John Cena vs. Gunther

After an incredible introduction, the crowd shows full hostility to Gunther as he takes early control of the match, throwing Cena around and taunting the audience in the process. Gunther goes for a signature chop, only for Cena to catch it.

He then tees off in vintage form and gets the hand up with the entire crowd. He lets out the ‘You Can’t See Me’ and landed the Five-Knuckle Shuffle. He sets up for the Attitude Adjustment but Gunther gets out of it. Cena stays on the attack and gets a hold of the STF on Gunther as the crowd gets on their feet.

Gunther gets out of the submission and his offense picks back up, delivering consecutive running Clotheslines to Cena. The taunting continues, but again Cena finds life again. He delivered another Five-Knuckle Shuffle and gets the AA right afterward, but Gunther kicks out. He tries another AA, and Gunther gets out and locks the Sleeper Hold on Cena. However, Cena reverses it with his own Sleeper Hold, which gets broken up by Gunther getting his leg on the rope.

The action moves outside of the ring where Gunther throws Cena into the steel steps. He moves the other set of stairs near the announcer’s table and gloats to the booing crowd. Gunther tries to land a vicious powerbomb on the announcer’s table, but Cena reverses it and lands the AA instead as both stars lay on the ground.

Back in the ring, Cena climbs the turnbuckle and lands the flying leg drop but the pin attempt is no good. He goes for a third Five-Knuckle Shuffle and Gunther lands the big boot. He follows it with a powerbomb and a pin attempt that Cena kicks out of. Gunther and Cena meet at the top rope and Cena lands the flying AA, and again Gunther kicks out.

Punches are traded when the two stars get to their feet, and it’s Gunther that breaks it with a powerbomb. He follows it with a Frog Splash and Cena avoids the loss, but Gunther doesn’t stop with another Sleeper Hold. Cena gets up several times but Gunther continues to drag him back down. Just when Cena breaks out of it, Gunther locks it back in.

Cena gets out one more time to land the AA but the pin doesn’t work and is immediately followed up with another submission hold. The crowd chants ‘don’t give up’ as Cena starts to fade. The referee checks Cena’s hand and he’s able to keep it up before the three-count.

But Gunther keeps the hold on. Cena finally taps out and Gunther wins, ending Cena’s career with a loss.

Analysis: Gunther is inevitable. ‘The Ring General’ said he would make Cena tap out and he delivers on his promise to get the victory.

The match was by far one of the most electric in recent memory as the crowd was really into the match and pulling for Cena to win. He showed he was going to leave it all out in the ring and delivered another epic clash to end it.

The result isn’t popular at all and there was plenty of booing and NSFW chants for it, but this is how it usually goes in retirement matches. There was hope Cena could end his with another signature victory, but instead Gunther gets the honor of sending someone away with a loss. Devastating for the WWE fans that rooted for Cena for so long, but it doesn’t represent what was an unbelievable career.

Watch: John Cena’s final introduction

Lilian Garcia with the final introduction for the 17-time WWE Champion.

Watch: John Cena’s final entrance

‘Stew, let’s go to work one last time.’

Cena enters to a thunderous ovation for his final WWE match.

The Miz appears, R-Truth interrupts

The Miz interrupts the broadcast to tell the crowd he should have been part of the John Cena farewell tour. As he goes on a tirade, R-Truth comes out and tells him he has an opponent.

Joe Hendry surprises

The Miz says his name and he appears.

Joe Hendry emerges and confronts The Miz and sends him down on the mat. Then he and R-Truth give The Miz a Five-Knuckle Shuffle before Hendry finishes it off with a Standing Ovation to ‘win’ the unofficial match.

AJ Styles and Dragon Lee vs. Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater

The NXT and TNA stars waste no time getting things going as they deliver synchronized super kicks and each go flying out of the ring to stun the World Tag Team Champions. Thanks to the blazing start, Evans and Slater take the early control against Lee.

A powerbomb helps Lee slow down the other team and gives him time to tag in Styles, who shows he can absolutely hang with the young talent. After a brief moment of chaos outside of the ring with everyone, Evans and Slater get rolling again, this time against Styles.

Lee helped Styles recover, but he had a botch when he tried a Phenomenal Forearm. It didn’t slow him down as he soon afterward got the Styles Clash on Slater. It was the final blow to get the champions the win.

Analysis: It wasn’t a lot of time, but the tag teams did more than enough with it to deliver an entertaining match. Slater and Evans showed off their high-flying skills perfectly, while Styles again shows Father Time still hasn’t caught up to him. The botch hurt the overall finish, but still was a fun performance with the limited time in the ring.

Bayley vs. Sol Ruca

Each star had help in their corner with Lyra Valkyria on Bayley’s side and Zaria still supporting Ruca, and early on Ruca was a step ahead of the veteran, using her stellar acrobatic skill set to her advantage. A mistimed backflip from Ruca momentarily gave Bayley some offense, but the NXT star was back in front quickly; she executed a tumbling leap out of the ring for the first big moment of the match.

Bayley had another opportunity to gain momentum, but Ruca was relentless and didn’t stay down long enough to get in a hole. When Ruca tried another leap, Bayley caught it for a Belly-to-Bayley that resulted in both stars down on the mat.

Bayley tried a Rose Plant but Ruca avoided it with a cartwheel, and Ruca tried the Sol Snatcher but Bayley tripped her up before it could be executed. Bayley went for the pin that was unsuccessful because Ruca’s legs got on the ropes.

Afterward, Ruca finally landed the Sol Snatcher, but Bayley rolled out. Ruca desperately dragged her back in the ring and Bayley tried to roll her opponent up. Ruca got out of it and executed her own pin and she got the count to three for the victory. The two stars then shake hands.

Analysis: The Sol continues to rise.

Ruca dazzles every time she’s in the ring, and it was no different on one of the biggest stages of her young career. She controlled the majority of the match, a clear indicator she has what it takes to be a problem on the main roster. Credit Bayley for being the great veteran to put Ruca over, and there’s no limit to what she can achieve after another great outing.

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. NXT Champion Oba Femi

The night starts with a massive showdown between the top star on the main roster vs. the top guy in NXT. The electricity is palpable after big pops on the entrances, and Femi shows early he’s not just a young star. He counters Rhodes’ punch with a powerful slam to the WWE Champion. From there, Femi takes the early advantage, throwing Rhodes around the ring with ease.

After taking some significant blows, Rhodes is able to slow Femi down and get him on the ground. That’s when Rhodes tees up the Cody Cutter and lands it to perfection. Rhodes had an unsuccessful leap outside of the ring, but a second time works to get Femi down.

It doesn’t have much impact with Femi recovering quickly in the ring for a Spinebuster. Rhodes went outside of the ring and Femi got a running start to launch himself into his opponent and over the table. Rhodes had a bloody mouth, yet it didn’t stop him from countering with a magnificent Cody Cutter.

The two stars were down when Drew McIntyre emerged and attacked Rhodes, ending the match in disqualification. Femi was upset and approached McIntyre, and that gave Rhodes enough time to give the ‘Scottish Warrior’ a Cody Cutter, followed by a slam from Femi. The two opponents then raise their titles together.

Analysis: The night gets off to a great start with the two champions putting on a high-quality match. Rhodes is established, but Femi got to formally introduce himself on the main roster. The crowd loved the NXT Champion and were fully invested in his entrance. He dazzled in the opportunity and did a exceptional job looking like a powerhouse.

People wanted to see a true winner in this fight, and a disqualification unfortunately hurts it a bit, and the crowd wanted to see the match continue. However, the result was certainly the safe way to go to protect WWE’s top guy and the one that will be in the position soon.

Watch: Oba Femi makes electric entrance

Watch: Cody Rhodes kicks night off

WWE icons in attendance

The stars are out to see Cena’s finale, including wrestling icons such as Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Trish Stratus and Mark Henry.

When is John Cena’s last match at Saturday Night’s Main Event?

John Cena’s last match takes place at Saturday Night’s Main Event on Saturday, Dec 13.

Stream WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event on Peacock

John Cena’s last match, WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event start time

Saturday Night’s Main Event begins at 8 p.m. ET, with Cena’s final match as the main event.

How to watch John Cena’s last match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event

Saturday Night’s Main Event will stream on Peacock, but you must have their premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on YouTube in most markets.

Where is John Cena’s last match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event?

Cena’s final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event will take place at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.

John Cena’s last match, WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event preshow

The preshow for Saturday Night’s Main Event begins at 6 p.m. ET. It will be streamed on Peacock and WWE’s social channels, including YouTube.

John Cena’s last match, Saturday Night’s Main Event match card

Matches not in order

John Cena vs. Gunther
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. NXT Champion Oba Femi
Bayley vs. Sol Ruca
AJ Styles and Dragon Lee vs. Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater

Watch: Saturday Night’s Main Event cold open

WWE chief content officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque narrates the opening of Cena’s final match.

John Cena farewell tour reaches end

The farewell tour is now complete. In his last year of in-ring competition, Cena won the Elimination Chamber and the Undisputed WWE Championship, becoming the first 17-time title holder in WWE history. He also took the Intercontinental Championship, making him a Grand Slam champion.

Saturday Night’s Main Event stage

The view inside Capital One Arena. WWE opts for a generic stage.

John Cena final match prediction 

Retirement matches usually mean ending a career with a loss, but that’s for most wrestlers. It’s completely different with Cena. It’s going to be an emotional thriller, with so many close calls and callbacks to the past 23 years of Cena’s tenure. Gunther will look like he made Cena tap out and it will end in a loss.

That’s until hustle, loyalty and respect power through. Cena finds just enough in the tank for a big finish, and he gets the pin to end it all with a win. – Jordan Mendoza

John Cena ends wrestling career as the greatest of all time

Did you really see John Cena?

Yes, we all know we’ve spent his entire career “looking” for him. The man behind “You Can’t See Me” got taken too literally to the point of invisibility. But maybe there is a deeper meaning to it. 

What exactly were you looking for? A hero? A villain? A reason to smile? A reason to boo?

For 23 years, WWE fans searched endlessly, wondering if they’d ever find the answer. But as he enters the final match of his storied career, it’s all clear. Finally, we do see Cena.

What do we see? That John Cena has cemented himself as the greatest wrestler in history – and there will never be another like him.

Turns out, it’s just basic thuganomics. 

Read why there will never be another Cenahere.

A love letter to John Cena and professional wrestling

I wasn’t a John Cena fan. Not back then. Not even a little bit.

As a kid, I was in the minority. I recognize that. Watch back any Cena entrance from 2007-15 and you’ll find the same crowd reaction: every adult in attendance booing mercilessly while every child simultaneously screams in glee. 

This was the John Cena experience. No matter how you felt about him, you gave him a reaction. And as any pro wrestler will tell you, that’s the job, brother.

Love him or hate him, Cena represented everything great about this weird, niche genre of entertainment. He embraced its quirks with determination, its grueling schedule with endless effort and its spoils with grace.

You didn’t have to be a fan of Cena to recognize his mastery.

Read why wrestling will miss Cenahere.

John Cena’s top moments of his career

There’s no debating Cena is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time − evident by several signature moments that defined a generation of wrestling.

While there are undoubtedly hundreds of those unforgettable performances, which ones stand out above the rest?

See the full list of top 17 momentshere.

John Cena’s top entrances 

A key element in wrestling is the entrance, and Cena knew how to make them grand.

One of the several things that made Cena a WWE legend was his iconic entrance music. He started off with ‘Basic Thuganomics,’ which became a classic with some clever lines, but he introduced ‘My Time is Now’ in 2005, and it has become a song that has transcended wrestling, becoming a recognizable tune and sending crowds into a frenzy the moment the first note hits.

With that signature song, Cena has made some epic entrances that left the audience wowed. He’s entered arenas and stadiums thousands of times, but some of those entrances stand out more than others and have become iconic moments in Cena’s lasting legacy.

See the full list of best entranceshere.

John Cena’s 10 best feuds 

More than 23 years is enough time to develop heated rivals in wrestling, and Cena had plenty of them in WWE.

As the face of WWE for decades, Cena got to the top of the wrestling world thanks to the epic showdowns he had with other big-time stars. Whether it was the promos, matches or the stakes, some feuds stood out above the rest. They often helped raise the legacy of both Cena and his rival as they each brought the best out of each other, and those heated rivalries helped produce some of wrestling’s top moments in recent memory.

Of course, not all of them were top-tier quality, but there were rivalries that transcended the sport and helped shape what wrestling is today.

See the full list of Cena’s best rivalrieshere.

WWE stars pay tribute to John Cena

Get the tissues ready.

Cena not only impacted wrestling fans, but stars themselves. Several of them honor him, including some big names like Roman Reigns, in this emotional video.

Oba Femi has ‘huge opportunity’ vs. Cody Rhodes

With NXT stars getting to challenge main roster talent, no one gets a bigger shot than Oba Femi; the NXT Champion will face Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

“It’s huge for me,” Femi told USA TODAY Sports. “That’s just a huge favor he’s done for us up-and-coming NXT superstars to showcase us on his final day, which speaks to his selflessness and humility.”

“The Ruler” has become a major hit in NXT, with his signature strut starting what is often dominance in the ring. It will be his biggest match yet, but Femi is ready for the challenge.

“At the end of the match, people realize that there is a new crop of talent, and they are here, and they mean business,” Femi said. “While I’m out there, I’m going to enjoy every moment I’m in there with Cody. It’s the best now versus the projected future, the biggest prospect from NXT. It’s a huge match. It’s a huge opportunity, and the fans get to enjoy it. 

“But I think when everything is said and done, Oba Femi will be victorious,” he added.

John Cena WWE career accolades

It’s been a career full of achievements as Cena has done about everything a wrestler can do in WWE. Here are all of his achievements: 

WWE Champion: 17 times (record)
United States Champion: five times
WWE Tag Team Champion: four times
Intercontinental Champion: one time
Grand Slam Champion
Triple Crown Champion
2012 Money in the Bank winner
2008 and 2013 Royal Rumble winner

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

No. 1 seed Pitt defeated No. 3 seed Purdue in the NCAA volleyball tournament on Saturday, Dec. 13 to punch its ticket to the Final Four in Kansas City.

Pitt’s had sweeps against UMBC, Michigan and Minnesota to advance. Things were a little tighter against Purdue, which pushed the match to four sets before Pitt prevailed, 25-22, 25-21, 22-25, 25-17.

Senior setter Brooke Mosher, who transferred from Illinois, has 47 assists, seven digs, four block assists and three service aces to lead Pitt. The Panthers advance to the Final Four for the fifth consecutive season. Pitt will be looking for its first national championship.

‘This is incredible,’ Mosher said on the court after the match. ‘I could not ask for a better last year. Making the Final Four, it’s been my dream since I was little.’

Olivia Babcock had 23 kills and a hitting percentage of .333. Teammate Marina Pezelj added 14 kills and 12 digs.

Pitt will face the winner of Nebraska-Texas A&M (3 p.m. ET, Sunday on ABC) in the national semifinals in Kansas City on Thursday, Dec. 18.

SCORE: Pitt 3, Purdue 1

Set 4 final: Pitt 25, Purdue 17

Pitt advances to the Final Four for the fifth consecutive season.

Set 4: Pitt first to 15

The Panthers are back on track, hitting .500 in the fourth set and 10 points away from the Final Four.

Set 3 final: Purdue 25, Pitt 22

The Boilermakers push Pitt to a fourth set. Pitt hit an abysmal .167 in the third set compared to .226 for Purdue. Akasha Anderson is up to 17 kills and Kenna Wollard has added 12 kills. Ryan McAleer has 13 digs.

Set 3: Purdue first to 15 as it fights back

Akasha Anderson is up to 14 kills and Kenna Wollard has added 10 kills as the Boilermakers are working to steal a set.

Set 2 final: Pitt 25, Purdue 21

Pitt setter Brooke Mosher has 26 assists leading to 29 kills.

‘Brooke Mosher is setting one of the great matches of her career,’ Pitt coach Dan Fisher said.

Set 2: Pitt first to 15, Purdue is keeping it interesting

Olivia Babcock is dominating with 13 kills on .462 hitting. Brooke Mosher is up to 23 assists and Marina Pezelj has eight digs.

Akasha Anderson is leading the Boilermakers with 10 kills and hitting .350.

Set 1 final: Pitt 25, Purdue 22

Reigning player of the year Olivia Babcock had nine kills on .563 hitting. Pitt hit .441 for the match and Purdue .390.

Set 1: Pitt is the first to 15

The Panthers are on a 9-3 run as Purdue is rolling up the errors.

We are underway in Pittsburgh

Purdue has an early lead, looking for its first trip to the Final Four.

Purdue starters

Pitt starters

Purdue arrives in the snow

What time is Purdue vs Pitt volleyball?

The Purdue Boilermakers play the Pitt Panthers in the Elite Eight of the NCAA volleyball tournament on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh.

Purdue vs Pitt volleyball TV channel, streaming

Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Petersen Events Center (Pittsburgh)
TV: ESPN2
Stream: Fubo, ESPN Unlimited

Purdue volleyball roster

Pitt volleyball roster

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

WASHINGTON, DC — The time is up.

After a legendary 23-year run, John Cena ended his WWE career with his final match on Dec. 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

It was an emotional send-off as the night was dedicated to the 17-time WWE Champion, with several stars of the past and present paying respect after all of the accomplishments and memories from his storied career. It was a thrilling and electric final match, but it didn’t end in victory as “The Ring General” Gunther defeated Cena to silence the crowd.

The result was shocking and upsetting for the WWE universe, but Cena got the chance to say goodbye for good. It capped off a fun night that included young NXT talent getting a chance against some of the best of the main roster.

Watch: Saturday Night’s Main Event postshow

John Cena says goodbye

A video plays inside the arena and on the broadcast honoring Cena. Afterward, Cena salutes the crowd and leaves his armbands and sneakers in the ring. He then walks back to the ramp and salutes the audience one final time. He says ‘it’s been an honor’ before he walks backstage, capping off his career.

WWE roster says goodbye to John Cena

After the match, nearly the entire WWE roster comes out, with Cody Rhodes and CM Punk placing their championships on Cena’s shoulders.

John Cena vs. Gunther

After an incredible introduction, the crowd shows full hostility to Gunther as he takes early control of the match, throwing Cena around and taunting the audience in the process. Gunther goes for a signature chop, only for Cena to catch it.

He then tees off in vintage form and gets the hand up with the entire crowd. He lets out the ‘You Can’t See Me’ and landed the Five-Knuckle Shuffle. He sets up for the Attitude Adjustment but Gunther gets out of it. Cena stays on the attack and gets a hold of the STF on Gunther as the crowd gets on their feet.

Gunther gets out of the submission and his offense picks back up, delivering consecutive running Clotheslines to Cena. The taunting continues, but again Cena finds life again. He delivered another Five-Knuckle Shuffle and gets the AA right afterward, but Gunther kicks out. He tries another AA, and Gunther gets out and locks the Sleeper Hold on Cena. However, Cena reverses it with his own Sleeper Hold, which gets broken up by Gunther getting his leg on the rope.

The action moves outside of the ring where Gunther throws Cena into the steel steps. He moves the other set of stairs near the announcer’s table and gloats to the booing crowd. Gunther tries to land a vicious powerbomb on the announcer’s table, but Cena reverses it and lands the AA instead as both stars lay on the ground.

Back in the ring, Cena climbs the turnbuckle and lands the flying leg drop but the pin attempt is no good. He goes for a third Five-Knuckle Shuffle and Gunther lands the big boot. He follows it with a powerbomb and a pin attempt that Cena kicks out of. Gunther and Cena meet at the top rope and Cena lands the flying AA, and again Gunther kicks out.

Punches are traded when the two stars get to their feet, and it’s Gunther that breaks it with a powerbomb. He follows it with a Frog Splash and Cena avoids the loss, but Gunther doesn’t stop with another Sleeper Hold. Cena gets up several times but Gunther continues to drag him back down. Just when Cena breaks out of it, Gunther locks it back in.

Cena gets out one more time to land the AA but the pin doesn’t work and is immediately followed up with another submission hold. The crowd chants ‘don’t give up’ as Cena starts to fade. The referee checks Cena’s hand and he’s able to keep it up before the three-count.

But Gunther keeps the hold on. Cena finally taps out and Gunther wins, ending Cena’s career with a loss.

Analysis: Gunther is inevitable. ‘The Ring General’ said he would make Cena tap out and he delivers on his promise to get the victory.

The match was by far one of the most electric in recent memory as the crowd was really into the match and pulling for Cena to win. He showed he was going to leave it all out in the ring and delivered another epic clash to end it.

The result isn’t popular at all and there was plenty of booing and NSFW chants for it, but this is how it usually goes in retirement matches. There was hope Cena could end his with another signature victory, but instead Gunther gets the honor of sending someone away with a loss. Devastating for the WWE fans that rooted for Cena for so long, but it doesn’t represent what was an unbelievable career.

Watch: John Cena’s final introduction

Lilian Garcia with the final introduction for the 17-time WWE Champion.

Watch: John Cena’s final entrance

‘Stew, let’s go to work one last time.’

Cena enters to a thunderous ovation for his final WWE match.

The Miz appears, R-Truth interrupts

The Miz interrupts the broadcast to tell the crowd he should have been part of the John Cena farewell tour. As he goes on a tirade, R-Truth comes out and tells him he has an opponent.

Joe Hendry surprises

The Miz says his name and he appears.

Joe Hendry emerges and confronts The Miz and sends him down on the mat. Then he and R-Truth give The Miz a Five-Knuckle Shuffle before Hendry finishes it off with a Standing Ovation to ‘win’ the unofficial match.

AJ Styles and Dragon Lee vs. Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater

The NXT and TNA stars waste no time getting things going as they deliver synchronized super kicks and each go flying out of the ring to stun the World Tag Team Champions. Thanks to the blazing start, Evans and Slater take the early control against Lee.

A powerbomb helps Lee slow down the other team and gives him time to tag in Styles, who shows he can absolutely hang with the young talent. After a brief moment of chaos outside of the ring with everyone, Evans and Slater get rolling again, this time against Styles.

Lee helped Styles recover, but he had a botch when he tried a Phenomenal Forearm. It didn’t slow him down as he soon afterward got the Styles Clash on Slater. It was the final blow to get the champions the win.

Analysis: It wasn’t a lot of time, but the tag teams did more than enough with it to deliver an entertaining match. Slater and Evans showed off their high-flying skills perfectly, while Styles again shows Father Time still hasn’t caught up to him. The botch hurt the overall finish, but still was a fun performance with the limited time in the ring.

Bayley vs. Sol Ruca

Each star had help in their corner with Lyra Valkyria on Bayley’s side and Zaria still supporting Ruca, and early on Ruca was a step ahead of the veteran, using her stellar acrobatic skill set to her advantage. A mistimed backflip from Ruca momentarily gave Bayley some offense, but the NXT star was back in front quickly; she executed a tumbling leap out of the ring for the first big moment of the match.

Bayley had another opportunity to gain momentum, but Ruca was relentless and didn’t stay down long enough to get in a hole. When Ruca tried another leap, Bayley caught it for a Belly-to-Bayley that resulted in both stars down on the mat.

Bayley tried a Rose Plant but Ruca avoided it with a cartwheel, and Ruca tried the Sol Snatcher but Bayley tripped her up before it could be executed. Bayley went for the pin that was unsuccessful because Ruca’s legs got on the ropes.

Afterward, Ruca finally landed the Sol Snatcher, but Bayley rolled out. Ruca desperately dragged her back in the ring and Bayley tried to roll her opponent up. Ruca got out of it and executed her own pin and she got the count to three for the victory. The two stars then shake hands.

Analysis: The Sol continues to rise.

Ruca dazzles every time she’s in the ring, and it was no different on one of the biggest stages of her young career. She controlled the majority of the match, a clear indicator she has what it takes to be a problem on the main roster. Credit Bayley for being the great veteran to put Ruca over, and there’s no limit to what she can achieve after another great outing.

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. NXT Champion Oba Femi

The night starts with a massive showdown between the top star on the main roster vs. the top guy in NXT. The electricity is palpable after big pops on the entrances, and Femi shows early he’s not just a young star. He counters Rhodes’ punch with a powerful slam to the WWE Champion. From there, Femi takes the early advantage, throwing Rhodes around the ring with ease.

After taking some significant blows, Rhodes is able to slow Femi down and get him on the ground. That’s when Rhodes tees up the Cody Cutter and lands it to perfection. Rhodes had an unsuccessful leap outside of the ring, but a second time works to get Femi down.

It doesn’t have much impact with Femi recovering quickly in the ring for a Spinebuster. Rhodes went outside of the ring and Femi got a running start to launch himself into his opponent and over the table. Rhodes had a bloody mouth, yet it didn’t stop him from countering with a magnificent Cody Cutter.

The two stars were down when Drew McIntyre emerged and attacked Rhodes, ending the match in disqualification. Femi was upset and approached McIntyre, and that gave Rhodes enough time to give the ‘Scottish Warrior’ a Cody Cutter, followed by a slam from Femi. The two opponents then raise their titles together.

Analysis: The night gets off to a great start with the two champions putting on a high-quality match. Rhodes is established, but Femi got to formally introduce himself on the main roster. The crowd loved the NXT Champion and were fully invested in his entrance. He dazzled in the opportunity and did a exceptional job looking like a powerhouse.

People wanted to see a true winner in this fight, and a disqualification unfortunately hurts it a bit, and the crowd wanted to see the match continue. However, the result was certainly the safe way to go to protect WWE’s top guy and the one that will be in the position soon.

Watch: Oba Femi makes electric entrance

Watch: Cody Rhodes kicks night off

WWE icons in attendance

The stars are out to see Cena’s finale, including wrestling icons such as Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Trish Stratus and Mark Henry.

When is John Cena’s last match at Saturday Night’s Main Event?

John Cena’s last match takes place at Saturday Night’s Main Event on Saturday, Dec 13.

Stream WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event on Peacock

John Cena’s last match, WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event start time

Saturday Night’s Main Event begins at 8 p.m. ET, with Cena’s final match as the main event.

How to watch John Cena’s last match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event

Saturday Night’s Main Event will stream on Peacock, but you must have their premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on YouTube in most markets.

Where is John Cena’s last match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event?

Cena’s final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event will take place at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.

John Cena’s last match, WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event preshow

The preshow for Saturday Night’s Main Event begins at 6 p.m. ET. It will be streamed on Peacock and WWE’s social channels, including YouTube.

John Cena’s last match, Saturday Night’s Main Event match card

Matches not in order

John Cena vs. Gunther
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. NXT Champion Oba Femi
Bayley vs. Sol Ruca
AJ Styles and Dragon Lee vs. Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater

Watch: Saturday Night’s Main Event cold open

WWE chief content officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque narrates the opening of Cena’s final match.

John Cena farewell tour reaches end

The farewell tour is now complete. In his last year of in-ring competition, Cena won the Elimination Chamber and the Undisputed WWE Championship, becoming the first 17-time title holder in WWE history. He also took the Intercontinental Championship, making him a Grand Slam champion.

Saturday Night’s Main Event stage

The view inside Capital One Arena. WWE opts for a generic stage.

John Cena final match prediction 

Retirement matches usually mean ending a career with a loss, but that’s for most wrestlers. It’s completely different with Cena. It’s going to be an emotional thriller, with so many close calls and callbacks to the past 23 years of Cena’s tenure. Gunther will look like he made Cena tap out and it will end in a loss.

That’s until hustle, loyalty and respect power through. Cena finds just enough in the tank for a big finish, and he gets the pin to end it all with a win. – Jordan Mendoza

John Cena ends wrestling career as the greatest of all time

Did you really see John Cena?

Yes, we all know we’ve spent his entire career “looking” for him. The man behind “You Can’t See Me” got taken too literally to the point of invisibility. But maybe there is a deeper meaning to it. 

What exactly were you looking for? A hero? A villain? A reason to smile? A reason to boo?

For 23 years, WWE fans searched endlessly, wondering if they’d ever find the answer. But as he enters the final match of his storied career, it’s all clear. Finally, we do see Cena.

What do we see? That John Cena has cemented himself as the greatest wrestler in history – and there will never be another like him.

Turns out, it’s just basic thuganomics. 

Read why there will never be another Cenahere.

A love letter to John Cena and professional wrestling

I wasn’t a John Cena fan. Not back then. Not even a little bit.

As a kid, I was in the minority. I recognize that. Watch back any Cena entrance from 2007-15 and you’ll find the same crowd reaction: every adult in attendance booing mercilessly while every child simultaneously screams in glee. 

This was the John Cena experience. No matter how you felt about him, you gave him a reaction. And as any pro wrestler will tell you, that’s the job, brother.

Love him or hate him, Cena represented everything great about this weird, niche genre of entertainment. He embraced its quirks with determination, its grueling schedule with endless effort and its spoils with grace.

You didn’t have to be a fan of Cena to recognize his mastery.

Read why wrestling will miss Cenahere.

John Cena’s top moments of his career

There’s no debating Cena is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time − evident by several signature moments that defined a generation of wrestling.

While there are undoubtedly hundreds of those unforgettable performances, which ones stand out above the rest?

See the full list of top 17 momentshere.

John Cena’s top entrances 

A key element in wrestling is the entrance, and Cena knew how to make them grand.

One of the several things that made Cena a WWE legend was his iconic entrance music. He started off with ‘Basic Thuganomics,’ which became a classic with some clever lines, but he introduced ‘My Time is Now’ in 2005, and it has become a song that has transcended wrestling, becoming a recognizable tune and sending crowds into a frenzy the moment the first note hits.

With that signature song, Cena has made some epic entrances that left the audience wowed. He’s entered arenas and stadiums thousands of times, but some of those entrances stand out more than others and have become iconic moments in Cena’s lasting legacy.

See the full list of best entranceshere.

John Cena’s 10 best feuds 

More than 23 years is enough time to develop heated rivals in wrestling, and Cena had plenty of them in WWE.

As the face of WWE for decades, Cena got to the top of the wrestling world thanks to the epic showdowns he had with other big-time stars. Whether it was the promos, matches or the stakes, some feuds stood out above the rest. They often helped raise the legacy of both Cena and his rival as they each brought the best out of each other, and those heated rivalries helped produce some of wrestling’s top moments in recent memory.

Of course, not all of them were top-tier quality, but there were rivalries that transcended the sport and helped shape what wrestling is today.

See the full list of Cena’s best rivalrieshere.

WWE stars pay tribute to John Cena

Get the tissues ready.

Cena not only impacted wrestling fans, but stars themselves. Several of them honor him, including some big names like Roman Reigns, in this emotional video.

Oba Femi has ‘huge opportunity’ vs. Cody Rhodes

With NXT stars getting to challenge main roster talent, no one gets a bigger shot than Oba Femi; the NXT Champion will face Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

“It’s huge for me,” Femi told USA TODAY Sports. “That’s just a huge favor he’s done for us up-and-coming NXT superstars to showcase us on his final day, which speaks to his selflessness and humility.”

“The Ruler” has become a major hit in NXT, with his signature strut starting what is often dominance in the ring. It will be his biggest match yet, but Femi is ready for the challenge.

“At the end of the match, people realize that there is a new crop of talent, and they are here, and they mean business,” Femi said. “While I’m out there, I’m going to enjoy every moment I’m in there with Cody. It’s the best now versus the projected future, the biggest prospect from NXT. It’s a huge match. It’s a huge opportunity, and the fans get to enjoy it. 

“But I think when everything is said and done, Oba Femi will be victorious,” he added.

John Cena WWE career accolades

It’s been a career full of achievements as Cena has done about everything a wrestler can do in WWE. Here are all of his achievements: 

WWE Champion: 17 times (record)
United States Champion: five times
WWE Tag Team Champion: four times
Intercontinental Champion: one time
Grand Slam Champion
Triple Crown Champion
2012 Money in the Bank winner
2008 and 2013 Royal Rumble winner

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The disturbing fallout between former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore and the program after ‘credible evidence’ surfaced he was involved in an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with a staffer is the latest in a long line of black marks for Michigan’s athletic department.

The most recent in a lengthy list of scandals has prompted a common refrain throughout the past week: Why and how does athletic director Warde Manuel still have a job? The answer is complicated and lengthy, but the version is this: He just does … for now.

A person with knowledge of the situation told the Detroit Free Press, part of USA TODAY Co., this week the Board of Regents met with Manuel on Thursday, Dec. 11, to discuss the latest scandal enveloping the biggest program he oversees.

Moore, Michigan’s football coach for two seasons and an assistant for six before that, was fired Wednesday when a relationship between him and a staffer was uncovered.

What does this have to do with Manuel? Other than it happened in the most important program he oversees? Because it’s still not entirely clear what he knew, and when.

That’s where the law firm of Jenner & Block comes in. U-M brought in the firm after its internal probe did not discover any evidence, but questions didn’t feel fully answered. Now, the firm has extended its investigation to the athletic department at large.

According to a source, the firm is looking into everything — including Manuel — to find out if there was a coverup.

Not only are there questions about the timing of U-M’s investigation — rumors swirled, but didn’t crescendo until after a loss to Ohio State, with the relationship not established until after an incoming recruiting class had mostly committed during the early national signing period — but about how such a long-term relationship within the department could have gone unnoticed by so many.

The first hint of impropriety came from an anonymous tip earlier this year, through a university hotline, stating Moore and the staffer were involved. The university brought both parties in for questioning and searched their phones, per the source, but no impermissible relationship was discovered.

That all changed this past week. Moore was fired after the staffer came forward and admitted there was a relationship.

That’s according to Kati Rezmierski, the Washtenaw County first assistant prosecutor who spoke Friday in Moore’s arraignment for third-degree felony home invasion, misdemeanor stalking and misdemeanor breaking and entering.

Moore has since admitted to police the two had been in a two-year relationship, the Free Press learned from recently obtained court records.

(While other court records redacted the name of the executive assistant, the transcript from the closed Friday hearing did not. The Free Press generally does not identify people described as domestic crime victims without their consent.)

A source told the Free Press “it’s fair” to say Manuel’s future is largely tied to the findings of the investigation. As of Thursday, he was “not on the hot seat in any imminent way,” but depending on the findings, that could change as quickly as Moore’s life has seemingly unraveled.

Of course, Manuel’s future isn’t that simple, either. He reports directly to the president’s office, which then reports to the board of regents. Currently, U-M is led by Domenico Grasso, an interim president brought in from U-M Dearborn after Santa Ono left Michigan for a potential job at the University of Florida.

A source told the Free Press that even though he’s serving on an interim basis, Grasso does have the go-ahead to make the call on Manuel’s future once Jenner & Block presents its findings.

Of course, this all comes while U-M searching for a permanent president. Grasso has indicated to those around him his plan is to finish the academic year, until May, according to a person with knowledge of his expected timeline.

The Free Press has learned the candidate list for president has been narrowed down; a decision could come early in 2026, though said hire would likely not take over until May 2026 — especially if they’re currently overseeing a university of their own.

The Jenner & Block investigation “would almost certainly be over’ by that point, according to the Free Press’ source. That would put the decision on Grasso, with the backing of the board to make the decision.

So, as Michigan looks for a new football coach and a new president, it also is looking into its athletic director.

Moore, who has been placed on a GPS tether since his release, is next due in court for a hearing on Jan. 22.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

A woman who recently ended an approximately two-year affair with ex-Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore told law enforcement he grabbed butter knives from a drawer and pointed them at her after barging into her apartment, recently obtained court records show.

Details from the statements made by the woman, an executive assistant to the head coach, were used Friday to charge Moore. He was charged with third-degree felony home invasion, misdemeanor stalking and misdemeanor breaking and entering.

‘(The woman) advised that she was carrying her belongings downstairs to leave, and while inside of her apartment she heard footsteps outside. (She) indicated that she ran towards the door to secure it, but before she could, Mr. Moore swung the door open and barged into her apartment with tears in his eyes,’ the court document reads.

‘(The woman) indicated that she was approximately 5 feet from the door when he made entry. She advised that she began backing up and as he was approaching her. (She) advised that Moore grabbed two knives out of her drawer and pointed them at her, ‘You ruined my life. You ruined my life.’”

Moore, 39, admitted to having an affair with the executive assistant but denied threatening her, records show. He was not charged with assault. He posted $25,000 bond Friday, Dec. 12.

‘Mr. Moore admitted to removing the knives and stated that he had threatened to kill himself. Mr. Moore denied physically assaulting (the executive assistant) and denied threatening her with any weapons,’ the record states.

While other court records redacted the name of the executive assistant, the transcript from the closed Friday hearing did not. The Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Co., generally does not identify people described as domestic crime victims without their consent.

The information the executive assistant gave to police, and police presented at a court hearing Friday, Dec. 12, is different than how prosecutors described what happened when they charged Moore.

“While I understand that there isn’t evidence to suggest that he directly threatened the victim with any of those (knives) that I’ve indicated, the totality of the behavior is highly threatening and highly intimidating. She was terrorized, your honor,’ Kati Rezmierski, first assistant prosecutor for Washtenaw County, said during a public court hearing.

The woman told police that night of the incident that ‘she has never been more terrified in her life.’

Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit described his charging decision in a statement sent to the Free Press on Saturday, Dec. 12.

“As was stated at the arraignment (Friday, Dec. 12), the evidence that is available at this time indicates that Mr. Moore had an intent to terrorize and harass the victim — which is the basis for the stalking charge. Given that his statements were those of self-harm, however, there was not sufficient evidence to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, an intent to assault or batter the victim,’ Savit said.

‘As indicated in our release (Friday) announcing charges against Mr. Moore, this matter remains under active investigation and, as with any case, we may add or amend charges as new evidence comes in.”

Moore’s lawyer Joseph Simon provided a statement in response to questions about why his client was not charged with assault.

‘Your question highlights the need to first obtain and review all evidence against every element of the charged offenses before making speculative comments or conclusions and that is what we intended to do,’ Simon said in a text message sent Saturday to the Free Press.

The executive assistant’s lawyer, listed in the court record as Heidi Sharp, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Before Moore was publicly charged, Detective Jessica Welker of the Pittsfield Township Police Department provided sworn testimony about the actions underlying the ultimate charges.

This occurred during what’s called a ‘complaint authorization hearing.’ It occurred in front of Magistrate Odetalla Odetalla, about an hour before Moore was formally charged. It was closed to the public, but the Free Press obtained a transcript.

The transcript cites law enforcement ‘dispatch,’ indicating the executive assistant’s lawyer first called police, saying, ‘her client, had called her saying Sherrone Moore was inside of her home, attacking her.’

The transcript later indicates police met the lawyer at the executive assistant’s Ann Arbor apartment. When they arrived, the lawyer, ‘advised that Moore had a long history of domestic violence against (the executive assistant), and that he was very dangerous.’

Welker, the detective, goes on to provide more detail from the executive assistant and her lawyer.

‘(The executive assistant) advised that she continued to back up, telling him to leave, and he continued towards her with the knives, backing her towards the living room,’ the transcript states.

‘(The executive assistant) advised that she was trying to call her attorney, and it wasn’t until she got her attorney on the phone and put her on speaker — and Moore heard her voice — that he immediately backed up and turned the knives on himself, pointing them at his neck, saying that he was going to kill himself and that she was going to watch.’

Moore then left, the transcript states. The executive assistant saw he left the butter knives on the counter. She locked the door, the transcript states. The executive assistant’s lawyer also provided police with text messages purportedly from Moore to the executive assistant.

One, allegedly sent around the time Moore arrived at the apartment, said, ‘I hate you. My blood is on your hand.’

The executive assistant tried to end communications with Moore on Monday, Dec. 8, the transcript states. He repeatedly tried to contact her after that, the record states.

After Welker finished providing this information to the magistrate, Odetalla determined there was enough probable cause to sign and issue warrants for Moore’s arrest.

The woman who accused Moore is a 32-year-old staffer in the athletics department. The Michigan athletics department confirmed this week she remains an employee, but wouldn’t provide additional details.

The Free Press left a message seeking comment from her but is not naming her at this time.

Some salary records published by the university list her as an administrative specialist, a title the department uses to cover a wide variety of roles, with salaries ranging from $44,000 to $360,000.

Her current salary is listed as $99,000. The records indicate she began at the school with a salary of $58,000 before being increased to $90,000 last year and then to her current rate. The records do not indicate the duties of the employees listed.

The woman appears to have taken down her LinkedIn profile and other social media accounts after being publicly linked to Moore.

In 2021, the university adopted a policy regarding intimate relationships between supervisors and their subordinates. The policy prohibits supervisors from initiating such relationships. If the relationship precedes the employment conflict or the subordinate initiates it, the policy calls for the supervisor to notify a superior about it.

The policy also calls for a management plan when a supervisor is in a relationship with a subordinate. It could require moving jobs or changing to whom the subordinate reports.

Free Press reporter Violet Ikonomova contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

No. 1 seed Pitt hosts No. 3 seed Purdue in the NCAA volleyball tournament’s Elite Eight on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2).

Pitt’s had sweeps against UMBC, Michigan and Minnesota to advance. But many of the sets were too close for comfort. Purdue advanced by coming back from a first set loss to beat SMU in the Sweet 16.

“I think we’re really battle-tested,” said Pitt’s Olivia Babcock, the reigning ACC Player of the Year. “In no way does it feel like we’ve swept our way through. All these teams are playing their hardest, and if you look at the scores, it’s not like we’re blowing teams out. It’s like 25-23, a set that could really go either way.

“I feel like it’s testing us with how we can play at the end (of sets). That’s something that’s going to be really important moving into these next three rounds.”

SCORE: Pitt 2, Purdue 0

Set 2 final: Pitt 25, Purdue 21

Pitt setter Brooke Mosher has 26 assists leading to 29 kills.

‘Brooke Mosher is setting one of the great matches of her career,’ Pitt coach Dan Fisher said.

Set 2: Pitt first to 15, Purdue is keeping it interesting

Olivia Babcock is dominating with 13 kills on .462 hitting. Brooke Mosher is up to 23 assists and Marina Pezelj has eight digs.

Akasha Anderson is leading the Boilermakers with 10 kills and hitting .350.

Set 1 final: Pitt 25, Purdue 22

Reigning player of the year Olivia Babcock had nine kills on .563 hitting. Pitt hit .441 for the match and Purdue .390.

Set 1: Pitt is the first to 15

The Panthers are on a 9-3 run as Purdue is rolling up the errors.

We are underway in Pittsburgh

Purdue has an early lead, looking for its first trip to the Final Four.

Purdue starters

Pitt starters

Purdue arrives in the snow

What time is Purdue vs Pitt volleyball?

The Purdue Boilermakers play the Pitt Panthers in the Elite Eight of the NCAA volleyball tournament on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh.

Purdue vs Pitt volleyball TV channel, streaming

Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Petersen Events Center (Pittsburgh)
TV: ESPN2
Stream: Fubo, ESPN Unlimited

Purdue volleyball roster

Pitt volleyball roster

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